Brooke Betsuie

Yá’át’ééh! My name is Brooke Betsuie, and I am Diné from an area on the Navajo reservation called White Mesa, Arizona. I am also an artist, advocate, community member and relative. My work draws upon the experiences and stories of Diné women and traditional stories. I use both watercolor and digital art to convey various messages centered around womanhood, resilience, empowerment and connection to the natural world. I use my art as a vessel to provide a space of comfort for not only myself, but my community, as well as depict stories and traditions for knowledge sharing.

“The Purpose of Prayer and Song” reflects teachings to keep prayers and songs close as guides through growth and hardship. In Diné tradition, we are sacred beings connected to the land and cosmos. I wanted the drawing to express the calm, peaceful energy of prayer, which connects us to the Holy People and the natural world. After praying with cedar, drinking water purifies the mind, body and spirit so we can continue forward. The hummingbirds symbolize clear, focused thinking. As the girl prays, she becomes immersed in the cosmos, showing our sacred connection to the stars and the universe.